[Presidential Contender] ⑤ Kim Bu-gyeom's 'Principled Remarks' Amid Impeachment Turmoil Show Presence... Unification of Byeong Factions Remains a Challenge

Strength as a Principled Moderate Unification Figure Who Watched the Protest Site in Daegu During Impeachment

Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, considered one of the potential presidential candidates in the opposition camp, is gearing up for a presidential bid amid President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment crisis. During the impeachment vote, he stayed in Daegu with citizens at protest sites, pressuring the ruling party to support impeachment, while also making principled statements on key decisions of the Democratic Party, thereby asserting his presence.

Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum. Yonhap News

Former Prime Minister Kim is regarded as part of the 'New Three Kims' of the opposition's non-Lee Jae-myung faction, along with Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon and former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo. He served as the co-chairman of the Democratic Party's standing joint election committee in the April 10 general election but openly criticized the so-called 'non-Lee Jae-myung' faction's nomination process, taking a firm stance against the party leadership.

He entered politics by participating in the founding of the Hankyoreh Democratic Party in 1988. In the 2016 20th general election, he was elected as a member of the National Assembly from Daegu, becoming the first Democratic Party-affiliated candidate to win there, and was elected for a fourth term. His victory in Daegu, a conservative stronghold, raised hopes for regional integration and propelled him as a rising presidential contender.

Kim's strength lies in being a centrist unifying figure, recognized as a principled politician by both ruling and opposition parties. Shortly after his inauguration as the 47th Prime Minister under the Moon Jae-in administration in 2021, during a National Assembly question session, he criticized the government's nuclear phase-out policy, stating, "The issue of leaving nuclear power plants, which are in the final stages of completion, idle without any action must be resolved quickly." He also expressed regret over the real estate issue that drew public criticism, saying, "I am sorry that many citizens were hurt by the soaring prices."

Kim's principled remarks continued during the current impeachment crisis. While emphasizing to the ruling party that "a president who declares war on the people has already lost the qualification," he maintained balance by cautioning the Democratic Party, which seeks to impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, saying, "It is excessive. Moderation is needed."

Another advantage is that he faces no judicial risks. Unlike Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, who faces multiple trials including a first-instance conviction for violating the Public Official Election Act and charges of witness tampering, Kim is free from such legal risks. Former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo was also imprisoned during the 2017 presidential election due to the so-called 'Druking' scandal.

However, his weakness lies in his limited power as an out-of-parliament non-Lee Jae-myung faction member. Political circles predict that Kim will focus on making principled statements between the ruling and opposition parties for the time being while closely monitoring the situation.